FINAL FY17 CPC Blessing of the Bay Recommendation — File 203088

JOSEPH A. CURTATONE MAYOR COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE FY17 FUNDING RECOMMENDATION FOR BLESSING OF THE BAY BOATHOUSE PARK REVITALIZATION, MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION AND MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION PROJECT DESCRIPTION MyWRA will lead a robust community engagement process and procure design services to complete a 25% design landscape plan for the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse Park and phasing and cost estimates for implementation. ELIGIBILITY Open space/recreation land: This project will rehabilitate and restore open space and outdoor recreation land. RECOMMENDED FUNDING On March 22, 2017 by a vote of 5-0, with one abstention, the Community Preservation Committee recommended appropriating $41,863 for this project from the open space and recreation land reserve budget to the control of the Mystic River Watershed Association for the overall purposes summarized in this document. Project Budget Expenses Amount Study $0 Soft costs $77,413.15 Construction $0 Total $77,413.15 Sources CPA open space/recreation land funds- requested $41,863 Merck Family Fund $2,200 Devonshire Foundation $3,750.15 Mystic Environmental Fund $14,600 Solomon Foundation $15,000 Total $77,413.15 ALIGNMENT WITH FY17 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION PLAN CITY OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

The Community Preservation Plan prioritizes expanding access to and use of the Mystic River and Alewife Brook corridors and improving the health of the wetlands and shores of the City’s water resources. The Plan also prioritizes rehabilitating existing recreational land according to need, according to the 2015 inventory of Somerville’s open space the park is in poor condition. FUNDING CONDITIONS 1. Work collaboratively on project with the City of Somerville. 2. Hold at least one public meeting. MEASURES OF SUCCESS The long term goal of the project is to expand both passive and active recreational opportunities at the Blessing of the Bay Park, making it a social and environmental hub for the community. Goals within the grant period include: • Complete a community-driven vision and design for the park • Engage diverse community members (100-200) and stakeholder organizations (8) in creating the plan • Build relationships between DCR, City of Somerville and local nonprofits (MyWRA, Groundwork) to ensure long-term success of this open space and the surrounding Mystic River Greenway network • Catalyze a larger vision and investment in the Mystic River parklands and paths in Somerville To measure success MyWRA will: • Count community members that participate in surveys, design workshops, one-on-one conversations and on-site events; Track demographic data inclusive of immigrant/non-native English speaking and low-income residents, people of color and youth that reside in the project area. • Create a baseline measure of the use of the Park- determine metrics and method for tracking use in the future as well as how to engage community members who have participated in design process. • A tertiary success will be in Groundwork Somerville’s ability to incorporate service learning into the green jobs training and leadership development curriculum of the Green Team. Green Team youth will gain on-the-ground training in community and civic engagement as well as landscape design. The full proposal is available at: http://www.somervillema.gov/departments/community-preservation- act/2017-cpa-projects .